Catchy Email – 19 Tips

Before we get to our detailed tips, let us discuss some fundamentals of what makes a great subject line. Irrespective of your Objectives, these are the essential elements Your subject line should possess:

1. Urgency

And while we would not promote using that exact language on your content, we do concur that communication urgency and lack in an email subject line will help induce visitors to click (or act) — when phrased creatively and strategically. But since you don’t want to be known as”the brand that cried wolf,” use these subject lines sparingly, and try to restrict them to when the occasion genuinely calls for immediate action.

2. Curiosity

Sometimes, subject lines operate because of their capacity to send the message,”You will benefit from opening this email” However, other times, it’s very good to maintain some sense of mystery — particularly if it pique’s the recipient’s natural curiosity and attention. Because they require opening the email to get more information, they could result in, well, a higher open rate. But be certain that the subject line, while enigmatic, still contrasts with your own brand. Too vague, and it can wind up being seen as spam.

3. Offers

Here is where that benefit of opening a specified email comes from. At the end of the day, people love new things and experiences — especially when they come free, or at least discounted. Open with that by adding it on your subject line. Personally, I’m far more inclined to open my daily newsletters when there’s an offer of allusion”free things” directly mentioned in my email address.

4. Personalization

No two email subscribers are precisely the same — and, sometimes, that means that the mails you send them should not be, either. Now in time, marketers haven’t had more ways to find out about their subscribers’ preferences, tasks, or general (dis)likes. So once you send them articles, on occasion, make it catered toward the person.

5. Relevance and Timeliness

As soon as we subscribe to a email list, much of the time, it is because we want to be kept informed, or at least learn more about a given topic (more about that later). Very similar to piquing your audience’s curiosity, crafting email subject lines that incorporate trending topics or timely headlines can help you establish your brand as an authority in your business — and can induce visitors to click to read.

6. Name Recognition

Let’s face it: We all have famous people who, sooner or later, we presently or formerly have admired. And when you understand your audience’s tastes and interests, then you can pique their interest including the names of this admired, recognizable people by adding them in your content and mentioning them in your email subject lines. But take heed: This tactic really only functions when it aligns with your brand, product, or service, so keep it relevant, instead of simply throwing out a familiar name for the sake of recognition.

7. Cool Stories

At risk of sounding like a broken record, here’s another place where curiosity comes into play. By front-loading your email subject line with a persuasive allusion to a story the message informs — but can only be read if clicked or opened — your crowd would like to become intrigued, and need to discover more. Again, ensure that the story is relevant to your brand. Otherwise, it might just confuse your readers and prevent them from opening the email.

How to Write Catchy Email Subject Lines

1. Keep it Short!

Email subject lines will get cut off if they’re too long, especially on mobile devices. And with up to 77 percent of email opens happening on mobile, we advocate using subject lines with over 50 characters to be certain that the people scanning your emails read the entire subject line.

If you are trying hard to maintain your subject lines short, consider which words matter less and at which you’re able to remove a frivolous detail. By way of example, if you’re sending an order confirmation, does not”Your order has been processed” seem better than”Order #9435893458358 is being processed”?

Same goes for your regular mails: Do not squander your time including the term”update” or”newsletter” in the topic line. Some studies even suggest these words may decrease the message’s open rate as it informs readers the email is connected with a series, and therefore they can catch the next one.

2. Use a familiar sender title.

That name recognition we mentioned earlier doesn’t merely apply to this famous — it applies to the familiar. When placing your sender name, be as human as possible. Olivia@yourcompany.com is both inviting and unintimidating to people when they start their inboxes.

If you’ve already fulfilled your recipients from a former conversation, use your name as the sender’s address — even when the email is coming from the company as a whole. The best impression you may make on your customers is that they’re working with you, the person — not the entire business.

“When the’from’ name does not sound like it is from someone you want to listen from, it doesn’t matter what the subject line is,” explains Copy Hacker‘s Joanna Wiebe. Ultimately, people are busy, and they just don’t bother with you in the event that you don’t sound like someone who would make for an easy (or at least friendly) conversation.

3.

Thanks to the total amount of spam email folks get these days, most men and women hesitate to open email from unknown senders. Think about when you call a business and can’t get a hold of an actual individual. It’s frustrating, right? This goes for email, as well.

I repeat: Neveruse this email address.

For example, we once found that mails sent from”Maggie Georgieva, HubSpot” performed in relation to opens and clickthrough rate than emails sent from just”HubSpot.”

4. Use personalization tokens.

Remember the personalization we cited earlier? Using personalization tokens — like name or location — in the topic line adds a sense of rapport, particularly when it’s a title. Everyone enjoys the sound of their own name. Additionally, it increases clickthrough rate: In actuality, studies have shown that emails that included the initial name of the recipient in their subject line had higher click-through rates than emails which did not.

One example of how brands affix this advice to subject lines is if dog walking business Wag! Does so with puppy names.

That’s great personalization and great timing.

Another customization strategy that works is to tailor topic lines to the recipient’s location — things like lists of their various towns’ best outdoor bars and restaurants.

Just do not go overboard with the personalization here. That can be a bit creepy. However, if you can not (or don’t want to) use personalization tokens in the topic line, use”you” or”your own” so it still sounds like you’re addressing them straight.

5. Segment your lists.

While email blasts that go out to your whole listing may be relevant and beneficial to some individuals, it will not be to other people — and could lead to frustration or confusion. Why is this restaurant sending me a listing of the best local steakhouses when I’m a vegetarian? Why is this company sending me case research when I simply signed up for the email list verifier yesterday?

Personalize the experience using information from the activities your clients have already taken — from which forms they’ve filled out, to which businesses they’re in, to exactly what their personal preferences are. In email advertising, you are able to personalize your recipients’ experience utilizing just a little thing known as list segmentation.

6. Don’t make false promises.

Make sure you make good on that commitment — and also do nottry to get your email opened by making false claims. This may irk your audience, and they will learn to not trust your topic lines, causing a lower open rate and a higher unsubscribe rate.

7. Do tell them what is inside.

Talking of making promises, if your guest has downloaded an offer and you’re delivering it through email, it’s a fantastic idea to use a subject line that states something like,”Your ebook inside!” Or,”Your guide awaits!” This works better than a simple”thank you” from the topic line since it makes it very clear that something’s waiting inside the email.

8. Time It!

Sending an email at the right time with the right topic line can make a big impact in open and clickthrough rate. A prime example? When food publication Eater sends at 6:45 P.M. on a Wednesday evening that stated,”Where to Drink Beer Right Now” — just in time for happy hour. Nailed it.

It was sent two weeks before the receiver had to revive his prescription. By sending an email at the right time, Warby Parker improved the chances of their email getting opened — and included a relevant call-to-action about getting a eyeglasses upgrade, also.

9. Use language that is concise.

Keep in mind that people scan their inboxes very quickly — thus the more clear and succinct your subject line is, the better. It is typically a good deal better to be succinct than it is to utilize complex and flowery language — unless you’re going to get an elusive subject tone to entice your recipients.

You’ll want to make that advantage very clear. As an example,”Increase your open rates by 50% today” is much more appealing than”How to increase open rates.”

10. Begin with action-oriented verbs.

Subject lines are similar to calls-to-action, in that you want the language to inspire folks to click. Subject lines that begin with action verbs are normally a lot more enticing, and your mails could be more readable by adding a vibrant verb at the start.

Actionable subject lines will inspire folks to click on your email by devoting excitement and urgency. For instance, in an email inviting people to a hockey legend dinner, the email subject line may read,”Dine with Bruins legend Bobby Orr,” rather than a generic (and less actionable)”Local Boston Sports Legend Meal.” The prior email utilizes”Dine” to assist the reader envision themselves at a dinner table.

11. Make people feel special.

When folks feel like they’re on the inside, it provides them a sense of belonging that may build loyalty and induce them to convert better on your emails.

The right phrasing can make your recipients feel special — and the effect can be magical. A Couple of ideas for phrasing comprise:

“For our cherished clients simply”

“An exclusive offer for you”

“My present to you”

“You’re invited!”

12. Create awareness of significance.

There is a phrase which, for a lot of us, is reminiscent of classic infomercials:”Act now!”

And while we would not promote using this exact language in your content, we do agree that communication urgency and scarcity in an email subject line will help induce readers to click (or act) — when phrased strategically and creatively.

But since you do not want to be called”the brand that cried wolf,” use these subject lines sparingly, and try to limit them to when the occasion genuinely calls for immediate actions.

13. Use numbers.

A good deal of companies send emails with vague statements within their subject lines — that is why using numbers and data is a great way to get your emails noticed, demonstrate a clear and straightforward message about your offer, and place the right expectations.

The same as with site titles, using numbers in your subject line is an effective email marketing best practice. You might use statistics to refer to the name of your listicle, the page duration of the deal you’re sending, a particular discount, or the numerical advantage of a specific resource you are supplying — like”Join over 750 others in this event!”

14. Pose a compelling query.

Asking a question in your subject line can also draw readers in — especially if you’re asking a question you know is relevant to your recipients’ buyer persona. This is just 1 way to pique that curiosity we mentioned before. For example, you might try the following:”Have you been really making these search engine optimization mistakes?” Or”Do you understand what your website is doing wrong?”

That connected to a website showing apartments for rent. A subject line such as this is both encouraging and a touch aggressive: While it gives hope that you will find flats out there that’ll fit within your budget, in addition, it pits your money against what the market offers.

Another example comes out of DocuSign. The entire body of this email contained a bunch of case studies which were meant to assist the receiver move closer to actually purchasing DocuSign. This is a wise move: People who are further down the funnel are likely more receptive to hearing client testimonials.

15. Don’t be reluctant to get punny.

Many people love a good pun. It is a great way to delight your recipients and also spice up your mails. Some of the best punny email subject lines include JetBlue, with subject lines such as”Land ramble –

Some of the best punny email subject lines include JetBlue, with subject lines like,”Land wander-ful low fares now!”

Quirky — a community-led innovation platform — worded among its own email subject lines like this:”Abra-cord-abra! We said it.” That second part is conversational and self-referential — and precisely what most folks would say after making a really cheesy joke in actual life.

If you are the least bit punny, consider small ways you can slip them into your emails when it is appropriate. Just do not overdo it. And remember the rule: When in doubt, ask a coworker.

16. DON’T USE ALL CAPS or overuse exclamation points!!!

A subject line that says,”OPEN NOW AND get a FREE TRIAL” or,”50 percent off voucher today only!!!!!!!!” Isn’t likely to get your email opened. In fact, it will probably get your email blown off.

Not only are those strategies disruptive, but they look spammy. So rather than using disruptive tactics like these to stick out in people’s inboxes, try personalizing your mails, establishing significance, and utilizing catchy and beautiful language.

17. Don’t include a question and exclamation at exactly the same subject line.

Act today!”

The speedy solution isn’t the problem the example above. It is also not”act now” — even though those are famous email marketing spam words. This is a timeless email saboteur, as it comes in many types. All you will need is to ask and shout at precisely the exact same moment.

The example above is a standard person. A fantastic alternative? Do not do this!

Not only is this subject line format overdone, but it’s alienating to your audience. Open-ended queries are a series of ignorance; any good marketer understands their leads better than that.

18. Use engaging preview text.

While trailer text is not technically part of your subject line, it will appear right near the topic line — and it certainly deserves your attention.

Preview text provides recipients with a peek at the content inside your email, which email clients like the iPhone Mail app, Gmail, and Outlook will show alongside the topic line. (The specific quantity of text displayed is based upon the email client and consumer settings.)

If you don’t set the trailer yourself, the email client will automatically pull from the entire body of your email. That can appear messy based upon your email articles, and additionally, it is a wasted opportunity to engage your viewers. (HubSpot customers: Click here to learn how to set up the trailer text of your emails.)

19. A/B test your topic lines.

Although these tips and best practices are a great place to start, what works best for some companies may not work as well for many others. It’s all about figuring out what works best for your specific audience. That is where A/B testing comes from.

Even though it can be tempting to use your intuition to forecast what subject line language will make people click on your emails, you always need to A/B examine your highest-stakes subject lines, and tweak the wording according to your results. What works better for the viewers: Long or short subject lines? Including numbers or not including amounts?